임진왜란 시기 대외정책의 결정에 나타난 류성룡의 국제질서 인식

Abstract

This paper examines Ryu Seong-ryong’s perception of international order. Ryu, as prime minister, played an important role in decision-makings during the Japanese Invasion of Korea at the end of 16th century. There are two representative theories in international politics: namely, realism and constructivism (including liberalism). The former focuses on such structural elements as power and interests, while the latter pays more attention to such perceptional elements as values, ideas, norms, and identities which are mostly constructed through mutual relations. These two theoretical differences are also found in discussions on international order in pre-modern Asia. For instance, the Tributary System as an ideal type has similarity to the above mentioned constructivism in terms of moral obligations, economic mutuality, voluntary obedience, etc. In reality, however, we can find realistic elements in the tributary states’s relations to China. In this theoretical framework, we can analyze Ryu Seong-ryong’s perspectives in various decision-making processes and his perceptions of international order reflected in those decisions. Ryu Seong-ryong’s decisions such as sending a delegation to celebrate Hideyoshi’s national unification, reporting his war plan to Ming, opposition to King Sunjo’s defection to Ming, requesting military aid from Ming, and initiating negotiations for peace. In relation to the negotiations for peace between Ming China with Japan, this article examines peace talks right before the withdrawal of the Japanese troops from the capital, the request for enthronement of Hideyoshi as the Japanese King, reports on the remaining Japanese troops by Joseon delegations, the dispatch of communication envoys to Japan, as well as peace negotiations during the war of 1597. In conclusion, most of Joseon mininsters had both aspects of constructivism and realism; however, Ryu Seong-ryong was certainly more realistic than his contemporaries. His realistic standpoint shows most explicitly in his recognition of the importance of power and interests in international relations. In this regard, Ryu Seong-ryong was relatively free from the Sino-centric dichotomy of Chineseness (civilization) and Barbarism (savageness).